Health Alert: Antibiotic-Resistant Disease Killing Humans and Swine in Denmark

The antibiotic-resistant bacteria Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase [ESBL] is killing both people and swine in Denmark.

The bacteria has been implicated in the deaths of a number of cancer and liver disease patients. The number of infected patients jumped 50 percent last year.

Health officials said the bacteria is being transmitted to humans through pigs. How? The increased use of antibiotics in agriculture may be behind the spread of the resistant strain.

What are ESBLs?
Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases [ESBLs] are actually enzymes produced by certain types of bacteria, which renders the bacteria resistant to the antibiotics commonly used to treat them.

ESBLs were first discovered in the mid-1980s. At the time, they were mostly found in the Klebsiella species of bacteria, in hospitals' intensive care units. Until recently, few people were affected by these mutated bacteria, and it didn't appear to be a major growing concern.

That has changed, however. According to the British Health Protection Agency [HPA], a new class of ESBL -- called CTX-M enzymes -- has emerged, and are now being widely detected among E.Coli bacteria. These ESBL-producing E. Coli are resistant to penicillins and cephalosporins, and are becoming more frequent in urinary tract infections.

Other species of bacteria that can now produce ESBLs include:
* K. pneumoniae
* K. oxytoca
* Salmonella
* Proteus mirabilis
* Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The Problem is Worse Than You Think!
According to a study published October 2007 in the Journal of the American Medical Association [JAMA], there were close to 100,000 cases of invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] infections in the United States in 2005 -- which lead to more than 18,600 deaths.

To put that number into perspective, HIV/AIDS killed 17,000 people that year.

Antibiotic-resistant disease IS a major man-made problem.

This was the study that propelled MRSA into the news last year, combined with a number of school outbreaks that took place around the same time. Discussions focused largely on reducing medical over-use of antibiotics, and proper hygiene -- such as washing your hands with soap and water to reduce the spread of infectious disease.

But little has been said about the rampant over-use of antibiotics in agriculture -- which is a MAJOR source of human antibiotic consumption -- and, hence, increased antibiotic resistance.

Agriculture as a Source of Antibiotic Resistance
Both MRSA and ESBL are being traced back to animals raised for food production -- especially, pigs.

These animals are often fed antibiotics at low doses for disease prevention and growth promotion. Animals receiving antibiotics in their feed gain 4 to 5 percent more body weight than animals that do not receive antibiotics. But the price is high for you, the end consumer, because this practice also creates the perfect conditions for antibiotic resistance to flourish.

Denmark's health officials claim they're unsure of how farmers and vegetarians -- who have not consumed infected meat -- are becoming infected. However, according to research cited on Johns Hopkins' website, the main reservoir of these organisms is in the lower digestive tract, and they can persist within the gastrointestinal tract for months.

So, perhaps the answer doesn't have to be all that complicated. The meat industry's practice of using antibiotics is, indeed, a driving force behind the development of antibiotic resistance in a now wide variety of bacteria that cause human disease.

The long stalemate on this issue constitutes a struggle between strong science and bad politics. In August 2007, he FDA finally banned the use of fluoroquinolones, a widely used class of antimicrobials, from agricultural use -- but not without the Bayer Corporation kicking and screaming in vehement opposition. After all, antibiotics for livestock use is big business; it constitutes about 70 percent of ALL antibiotic use! They couldn't replace that market with human consumers even if they tried.

Other Agricultural Sources of Antibiotics
Another heavily tainted meat product you should stay away from is conventionally raised chicken. A 2006 study, published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, found that bacteria from conventional chicken, and from people who ate the chicken, became resistant to Synercid, a strong antibiotic used to treat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In essence, it can cause resistance to the last lines of defense currently available in the modern medicine cabinet.

It also found that it was rare to find resistant bacteria among antibiotic-free chicken, while the majority of bacterial isolates from conventional poultry were resistant.

But, the ramifications of using antibiotics in agriculture don't end there. Antibiotics filter down through the food chain in sometimes unsuspecting ways.

Antibiotics are also being transferred, via manure, into your food supply.

A 2007 study in the Journal of Environmental Quality looked at whether food crops will accumulate antibiotics from soil covered with antibiotic-containing manure. In a greenhouse setting, corn, lettuce and potatoes were grown on soil that contained hog manure, with a commonly used veterinary antibiotic added.

The antibiotics were absorbed by all three crops, into both their leaves and tissue. Meanwhile, the antibiotics also transferred to the potato tubers, suggesting that root crops -- like carrots, radishes and potatoes -- may be particularly at risk for antibiotic accumulation.

Unfortunately, these findings also have implications for organic farmers, who often use manure as their main source of fertilizer. And, as it stands, manure that contains antibiotics is still allowed under the organic label.

How to Avoid Excessive Antibiotic Exposure
So, how can you ensure that the food you feed to yourself and your family is pure and healthy?

Apart from growing it yourself, your best option is to get to know a local farmer near you -- one who uses non-toxic farming methods. If you live in an urban area, there are increasing numbers of Community Supported Agriculture [CSA] programs available that give you access to healthy, locally grown foods -- even if you live in the heart of the city.

If you are looking for a safer alternative to commercially raised beef, please be sure to check out grass-fed beef. Grass-fed cattle are not routinely fed antibiotics. They may occasionally receive them for an infection, but that would be the rare exception -- and even then, they are only used for a few days.

In a nutshell: "Natural" is best, and organic is superior.

To learn how to begin to undo the negative effects you've already suffered by consuming conventionally produced foods, visit:

==> http://tinyurl.com/257ops

SOURCES: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MayoClinic.com, Salubris Inc. [photo], U.S. Department of Agriculture, WebMD
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Do You Really Think You're Safe? Perhaps a Gas Mask Might Help...

I'm WARNING you! You must do something about the air you're breathing. Think it's safe? Think again...

==> http://www.ScienceDaily.com/releases/2006/09/060927201220.htm

Here's an excerpt: "...[e]xposure to them [pollutants] poses a high risk to community health."

There's more...

"Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Southern University, University of Houston Law Center, and The University of Texas Medical Branch [UTMB] at Galveston collaborated with Rice on the study, which focused on benzene, 1,3-butadiene, formaldehyde and diesel particulate matter.

"Based on the results of our study, we strongly recommend immediate action to lower the ambient concentrations of the four hazardous air pollutants we researched," said principal investigator Matt Fraser, associate professor in civil and environmental engineering at Rice. "The level of air toxics concentration that we're seeing in the Houston area poses a dangerously high risk of cancer and other health problems."

Even worse...

"Benzene, also a product of petrochemical manufacturing, and present in motor vehicle exhaust, averaged an annual concentration of 1.7 ppb in Houston during 2004; the amount in Los Angeles was 0.9 ppb. Benzene exposure leads to an increased risk of leukeumia as well as noncarcinogenic effects, including decreased blood cell counts.

"Formaldehyde, a gas formed through atmospheric chemical reactions and also emitted directly from various sources, had an annual average concentration of 7.9 ppb in Houston in 2004; Los Angeles was close behind with 7.2 ppb. Exposure can cause irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract. Inhalation of formaldehyde causes degenerative effects in laboratory animals and nasal tumors in rats, and similar risks are anticipated in humans.

"Diesel particulate matter [PM] originates from widespread sources, including vehicles, engines, and generators. Diesel particulates are not monitored routinely at local air quality monitoring sites, but recent air pollution research studies in Houston indicate concentrations of diesel PM between 1.6 and 3.7 micrograms per cubic meter. The report estimates that if one million people were exposed to this level over their lifetime, between 50 and 1,000 would contract cancer."

Now, even if YOU think you can beat the odds, you must not allow yourself to get sick due to the accumulation of all this "JUNK" inside you from -- believe it or not -- just the "AIR" you breathe. And, even though the study reports on Houston mainly, this is not the only city where these chemicals are filling the air. They are EVERYWHERE!!!

Your lungs are moist and made of layers of tissue; thus, they act like a wet SPONGE would if exposed to the same stuff. And the LAST THING they need to soak up is all this industrial CRAP!

But what should you do? Perhaps a "gas mask" is not very practical, eh? [If you wore one all day long people would think you were some sort of freak --right?]

Guess what Dr. Suzanne Gudakunst [pictured] has done for you -- ? Inside her brand-new "Top Secret Fat Loss Secret," there's more than just a mere "fat-loss solution." It also gives you an entire way to "FLUSH OUT" all the stored and soaked-up, absorbed "JUNK" from the environment!

This amazing "secret" actually forces all the "garbage" out that you've been breathing in all your life! When you breathe in this filthy stuff, it forms deposits all throughout the various thousands of tissues in your body.

Over time, it causes sickness and disease -- and, yes, even DEATH! But, by getting rid of it, it NEVER has the chance to take you down -- because YOU get rid of "IT" first, and BEFORE it has a chance to get rid of YOU!

So, if you take yourself, your life, and your health seriously, then grab Dr. Suzanne's brand-new "Top Secret Fat Loss Secret" for yourself NOW -- before it's too late for you!

Frankly, it's already pretty late in the game for you, as you're now just finding out about all this when you should have at least 10 years ago! So why allow another second to go by and bring you one second closer to DISEASE or DEATH?

Take action for your own sake TODAY!

==> http://tinyurl.com.2yx268/

Best to you and yours for your absolute good health and ultimate prosperity...

P.S.: In case you didn't know it already, Donald Trump's own dentist, Dr. Larry Rosenthal, uses Dr. Suzanne as his mentor in fat loss -- and on how to stay healthy and disease-free! Now that's saying something when a man as rich and powerful as Donald Trump's very own personal dentist, Dr. Larry, can use anyone on the planet for this, and he chooses Dr. Suzanne for it! So, maybe YOU should listen to her, too...

==> http://tinyurl.com.2yx268

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As Texas native Dr. Phil McGraw might say: It's time to GET REAL about your health! Let Dr. Suzanne help you stay healthy and disease-free.

Here's the TRUTH About Your Drinking Water -- and What You Can Instantly Do About It!

Today, I want to scare you ... a lot, in fact! Really, I do ... Why? So that you will take action and take care of yourself, using this little "secret" I'm going to give you -- one that, although small, will help you in a really BIG, BIG way!

By now, everyone's heard the saying, "If you are going to Mexico on vacation, have fun -- but be sure NOT to drink the water!"

Why do we say that? Is Mexico a horrible place? No. It's actually nice ... In fact, I've vacationed there!

The main reason people say this is, because there may be "parasites"or "toxins" in the water that we're not ready for, or resistant against. And if we drink it, we may get really, really sick -- maybe even DIE!

But, now, here's the scary part: In the United States, the water may be just as "sickening" ... and maybe even worse!

I can already hear a few "patriots" screaming, "Let's hang her!" [Let's not hang me just yet, OK?]

Read this excerpt directly from the EPA's website: "Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants."

Naturally, some would argue that this is only reasonable, right? But here's more ...

"Coliform bacteria are common in the environment, and are generally not harmful. However, the presence of these bacteria in drinking water is usually a result of a problem with the treatment system or the pipes which distribute water, and indicates that the water may be contaminated with germs that can cause disease.

"Fecal Coliform and E. coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause short-term effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms.

"Turbidity has no health effects. However, turbidity can interfere with disinfection and provide a medium for microbial growth. Turbidity may indicate the presence of disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches.

"Cryptosporidium is a parasite that enters lakes and rivers through sewage and animal waste. It causes cryptosporidiosis, a mild gastrointestinal disease. However, the disease can be severe or fatal for people with severely weakened immune systems. EPA and CDC have prepared advice for those with severely compromised immune systems who are concerned about Cryptosporidium.

"Giardia lamblia is a parasite that enters lakes and rivers through sewage and animal waste. It causes gastrointestinal illness [e.g. diarrhea, vomiting, cramps]."

YUMMY!!! [Makes me wanna puke just reading some of this!]

And how about that part about the parasite "Cryptosporidium" being potentially *FATAL*? [How nice!]

If you want to read the rest from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's [EPA] website, just go here now:

==> http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw/hfacts.html

Now, you're probably thinking, "That's just great! Every time I turn around, someone, or something, is out to get me!" Right? While this may be somewhat true, it does NOT mean that you have to allow yourself to become a "victim." [How weak would you be then?]

My advice to you is that you arm yourself in the same way someone would if they knew they were about to be "attacked" by a DANGEROUS and DEADLY enemy! I mean, you wouldn't just sit back and let someone kill you, would you? ... Or lay a hand on your family, right?

So why allow "little critters" to kill you just because you either can't see them, or because you keep lying to yourself, trying to convince yourself they aren't "really" there to begin with?

In her recently released e-book -- "Top Secret Fat Loss Secret" -- Dr. Suzanne Gudakunst [pictured] gives you not just one, but several, "INSTANT" sources of "Parasitic Cleansers" that flush out all this kind of goop mentioned above! The best part: Her secret is 100% NATURAL!

There's NO question whether her sources "really" work or not, as that's precisely what they were designed to do -- i.e., KICK "PARASITIC A$$"!

Or, you can ignore this post and risk getting irreversibly sick ... but, having just recovered from a bad case of Giardiasis myself, I wouldn't recommend it, though. [I swear, it's disgustingly and painfully true! The culprit: Poor sanitary conditions at a local *upscale* restaurant, no less. Nasty, nasty stuff, believe me ...]

You can get Dr. Suzanne's secret -- plus much, much more -- at:

==> http://tinyurl.com/2yx268

It's *FULLY-LOADED* with this and so many more benefits, that you'll truly thank yourself for making such a wise investment in bottom-line good health -- for yourself, your family and your pets!!
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Get the TRUTH about your drinking water -- and what you can instantly do about it! ==> http://tinyurl.com/2yx268